December 2008 Archives

Proof, if it were needed, that even the most experienced and respectable of investors can be hoodwinked by a well-designed investment scam comes this month with the collapse of a huge so-called Ponzi scheme in New York.

It's the talk of Wall Street and investment centers worldwide, with losses said to be around $50 billion. We bring you the story in this latest round up of the scam headlines.

We've also picked up on several new phishing and ID theft cons currently in play, a warning on fake Nintendo game consoles, and news of bogus utility workers hoping to cash in on the cold weather.

Then there's the story of the supposed passed-out poisonous business card that's supposed to make you pass out.

As we never tire of pointing out, not all scams are illegal. Take this week's main story for example, where high schoolers are fooled into paying for expensive trips believing they've been invited to the Presidential inauguration.

The trick is to mislead by implying one thing but then to put the truth in the small print.

But most deceptions are just barefaced fraud and lies, though they usually come dressed up with plausible lines -- like the ID thief who sweet-talked his victims with flowers and wine or the tale of the "Great Gas Giveaway" reported below.

These and yet another costly Nigerian overpayment con and two seasonal holiday scams, are among the tricks to be on the lookout for -- wherever you are -- reported in our latest roundup of the scam headlines.